'aortorenal' originates from New Latin/modern medical formation, specifically combining the combining form 'aorto-' (from Latin/Greek 'aorta', referring to the main artery) and 'renal' (from Latin 'renalis', from 'renes' meaning 'kidney'), where 'aorto-' meant 'of the aorta' and 'renal' meant 'of the kidney'.

'aortorenal' was formed in modern medical English by directly combining the classical-derived combining form 'aorto-' with the adjective 'renal' to denote a relationship between the aorta and the renal arteries; it is a compound formed within scientific/medical usage rather than inherited from Old or Middle English.

Initially the components meant 'of the aorta' and 'of the kidney' respectively; over time the compound came to be used as a concise technical adjective meaning 'relating to both the aorta and the renal (arteries/kidney)'.